Reed for musical instruments



Jan. 6, 1942. A. BRILHART 2,268,641

REED F'OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Aug. 3, 1940 ZSrwentor ARNOLD BRILHART (Ittomeg Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REED FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Arnold Brilhart, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,260

4 Claims.

This invention relates to reeds for musical instruments of the woodwind type, for example, clarinets and saxophones.

One object of the present invention is to provide a reed formed of a plastic and characterized by the fact that the outer surface of the vibratile portion thereof is roughened somewhat whereby the mouthpieces of the instruments provided with such reeds are prevented from slipping or sliding too readily between the lips of the players.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic reed with elements projecting slightly from the outer surface of the vibratile portion of the reed whereby to improve the tonal qualities of the musical instruments provided with such reeds.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve musical reeds which are molded or otherwise formed of plastics.

The above objects of the invention and the manner of attaining the same will be clearly understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a reed embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the musical reed made in accordance with the present invention is formed from a plastic preferably by molding the same in accordance with any suitable plastic molding method. Any suitable plastic, for example, pyralin, Bakelite, vinylite, Celluloid, etc., can be used, the plastic per se forming no part of the present invention.

Said reed comprises as usual a rear portion l2 which is seated on the lay of the mouthpiece and which has an outer curved surface M which is engaged by the ligature for securing the reed in position in the mouthpiece of the musical instrument. Said reed also comprises as usual a tapering part l6 providing the vibratile tongue which terminates in a very thin forward edge I8.

For accomplishing the objects of the present invention the outer surface 20 of vibratile tongue it, that is, the surface which is engaged by the lips of the player, instead of being smooth as heretofore in reeds formed of plastics is roughened somewhat. More particularly, said surface is provided with a plurality of narrow projections 22 of varying length and of minute depth. Said projections are short and extend longitudinally of the reed and are spaced from each other laterally and longitudinally of the reed. Said projections do not necessarily extend along straight lines but are preferably somewhat irregular and although not readily discernible as to precise form by the naked eye have the general appearance of the grain of wood of wooden musical reeds when examined under a magnifying glass.

Plastic reeds having the vibratile tongue l6 thereof provided with elements 22 are preferably formed by molding the same from the plastic substance in a mold having provision for producing said elements. It is within the scope of the present invention, however, to produce the reeds from plastic sheet material. Reeds embodying the present invention, that is, plastic reeds provided with elements 22 or their equivalent have been found to improve the tonal qualities of the musical instrument equipped with such reeds and are additionally advantageous for the reason that the slipping or sliding of the reeds between the players lips is substantially reduced by reason of the roughened surface of the vibratile portion of the reed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically disclosed. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein specifically shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a reed for the mouthpiece of musical instruments, comprising a molded member formed of plastic material and having a tapering part providing a vibratile tongue, the outer surface of said vibratile tongue being provided with a plurality of irregular narrow projections of varying length and of minute depth, simulating the grain of wood.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a reed for the mouthpiece of musical instruments, comprising a molded member formed of plastic material and having a tapering part providing a vibratile tongue, the outer surface of said vibratile tongue being provided with a plurality of irregular narrow projections of varying length and of minute depth, said projections extending longitudinally of said surface along irregular lines simulating the grain of wood.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a reed for the mouthpiece of musical instruments, comprising a molded member formed of plastic material and having a tapering part providing a vibratile tongue, the outer surface of said vibratile tongue being provided with a plurality of irregular narrow projections of varying length and of minute depth, said projections extending longitudinally of said surface along irregular lines and irregularly spaced from each other laterally and longitudinally of the reed.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a reed for the mouthpiece of musical instruments, comprising a member formed of a plastic and having a tapering part providing a vibratile tongue, the outer surface of said vibratile tongue being provided with a plurality of narrow surface-roughening elements of varying length and of minute depth and extending longitudinally of said surface along irregular lines and irregularly spaced from each other laterally and longitudinally of the reed, said elements being short and simulating the grain of wood.

ARNOLD BRILHART. 

